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Rishi Sunak, Former UK Chancellor of the Exchequer - and now UK PM
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Rishi Sunak has said Nicola Sturgeon needs to be beaten rather than ignored, aiming a dig at Liz Truss who earlier this week called Scotland's first minister an "attention seeker".
Mr Sunak said Ms Sturgeon and her party the SNP "pose an existential threat to our cherished union", adding: "Arguing that we should ignore them is dangerously complacent."
"We can't just bury our heads in the sand and pretend they aren't there - we need to stop them in their tracks," the former chancellor said.
"And that's exactly what I would do as prime minister - holding the SNP to account for its failings and personally ensuring that the UK government has a laser focus on delivering for every part of our United Kingdom."
It comes a few days after Tory leadership frontrunner Ms Truss suggested she would "ignore" Ms Sturgeon if she were to become the next leader of the Conservative Party.
Speaking at a Tory leadership hustings in Exeter, the foreign secretary called Scotland's first minister an "attention seeker" and responded "no, no, no" when asked about the prospect of another independence referendum if she were to become PM.
"I really believe we are a family, and we're better together," she said.
"I think the best thing to do with Nicola Sturgeon is ignore her. She's an attention seeker, that's what she is."
But the SNP hit back at the "cack-handed" comments, saying they would only boost support for independence.
The party's deputy leader in Westminster, Kirsten Oswald, said: "The likely next prime minister has made crystal clear the partnership of equals Scotland was promised in 2014 was a sham.
"Firing cheap shots to grab headlines is straight out of the Trump playbook but reveals as never before the contempt Westminster has for the democratic choices people in Scotland make and the elected Scottish government."
On Friday evening, Ms Sturgeon herself acknowledged the remark, tweeting a picture of a seal captioned: "Spotted this cute seal in beautiful Argyll. I think s/he might be a bit of an attention seeker."
Some Tory MPs also criticised Ms Truss' remarks, with former minister Liam Fox saying Ms Sturgeon had to be "treated with respect".
Mr Fox, who is backing Mr Sunak in the leadership contest, told Sky News: "Whenever I hear politicians accusing other politicians of being attention seeking, I do tend to raise an eyebrow.
"When it comes to the first minister of Scotland, they have a constitutional position, they have to be treated with respect."
Both Mr Sunak and Ms Truss have been clear that they would not grant Ms Sturgeon a second independence referendum in Scotland if elected as PM and would instead seek to strengthen the union.
Meanwhile, Mr Sunak has also accused Ms Truss of "imitation" as the foreign secretary is set to reveal her levelling up plan which has been backed by regional Tory leaders.
The foreign secretary is expected to announce that she will review the levelling up formula to fix underinvestment in regional infrastructure if she becomes prime minister and will ensure transport links are better integrated across buses, road, and rail.
Ms Truss will add that her administration would make the most of the UK's "new Brexit freedoms" - including creating low tax, low regulation "investment zones" on brownfield sites.
Ahead of unveiling her levelling up proposals at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham on Saturday, Ms Truss said: "My mission as prime minister will be to level up opportunity and realise aspiration no matter who you are or where you live."
But Mr Sunak's team accused Ms Truss of "copy and pasting policies put in place by Rishi" and "re-announcing two-year-old government policies".
"Imitation is the best form of flattery, as the saying goes," they said.
However, regional Tory leaders Andy Street, mayor of the West Midlands and Jake Berry, chair of the Northern Research Group described Ms Truss' levelling up initiatives as a "bold vision".
Mr Street said: "She has a bold vision for our regional economies, with the policies we need to make levelling up a reality. Her plan for investment zones, for instance, will give us a powerful tool for unlocking new investment, jobs, and growth."
SKY
Mr Sunak said Ms Sturgeon and her party the SNP "pose an existential threat to our cherished union", adding: "Arguing that we should ignore them is dangerously complacent."
"We can't just bury our heads in the sand and pretend they aren't there - we need to stop them in their tracks," the former chancellor said.
"And that's exactly what I would do as prime minister - holding the SNP to account for its failings and personally ensuring that the UK government has a laser focus on delivering for every part of our United Kingdom."
It comes a few days after Tory leadership frontrunner Ms Truss suggested she would "ignore" Ms Sturgeon if she were to become the next leader of the Conservative Party.
Speaking at a Tory leadership hustings in Exeter, the foreign secretary called Scotland's first minister an "attention seeker" and responded "no, no, no" when asked about the prospect of another independence referendum if she were to become PM.
"I really believe we are a family, and we're better together," she said.
"I think the best thing to do with Nicola Sturgeon is ignore her. She's an attention seeker, that's what she is."
But the SNP hit back at the "cack-handed" comments, saying they would only boost support for independence.
The party's deputy leader in Westminster, Kirsten Oswald, said: "The likely next prime minister has made crystal clear the partnership of equals Scotland was promised in 2014 was a sham.
"Firing cheap shots to grab headlines is straight out of the Trump playbook but reveals as never before the contempt Westminster has for the democratic choices people in Scotland make and the elected Scottish government."
On Friday evening, Ms Sturgeon herself acknowledged the remark, tweeting a picture of a seal captioned: "Spotted this cute seal in beautiful Argyll. I think s/he might be a bit of an attention seeker."
Some Tory MPs also criticised Ms Truss' remarks, with former minister Liam Fox saying Ms Sturgeon had to be "treated with respect".
Mr Fox, who is backing Mr Sunak in the leadership contest, told Sky News: "Whenever I hear politicians accusing other politicians of being attention seeking, I do tend to raise an eyebrow.
"When it comes to the first minister of Scotland, they have a constitutional position, they have to be treated with respect."
Both Mr Sunak and Ms Truss have been clear that they would not grant Ms Sturgeon a second independence referendum in Scotland if elected as PM and would instead seek to strengthen the union.
Meanwhile, Mr Sunak has also accused Ms Truss of "imitation" as the foreign secretary is set to reveal her levelling up plan which has been backed by regional Tory leaders.
The foreign secretary is expected to announce that she will review the levelling up formula to fix underinvestment in regional infrastructure if she becomes prime minister and will ensure transport links are better integrated across buses, road, and rail.
Ms Truss will add that her administration would make the most of the UK's "new Brexit freedoms" - including creating low tax, low regulation "investment zones" on brownfield sites.
Ahead of unveiling her levelling up proposals at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham on Saturday, Ms Truss said: "My mission as prime minister will be to level up opportunity and realise aspiration no matter who you are or where you live."
But Mr Sunak's team accused Ms Truss of "copy and pasting policies put in place by Rishi" and "re-announcing two-year-old government policies".
"Imitation is the best form of flattery, as the saying goes," they said.
However, regional Tory leaders Andy Street, mayor of the West Midlands and Jake Berry, chair of the Northern Research Group described Ms Truss' levelling up initiatives as a "bold vision".
Mr Street said: "She has a bold vision for our regional economies, with the policies we need to make levelling up a reality. Her plan for investment zones, for instance, will give us a powerful tool for unlocking new investment, jobs, and growth."
SKY
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Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak row over recession warning in latest TV clash
Tory leadership rivals Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak have set out competing plans to deal with the economic recession forecast by the Bank of England in their latest TV clash.
Ms Truss said a recession was "not inevitable" if "bold" action was taken.
But Mr Sunak said the foreign secretary's "unfunded" tax cuts would pour "fuel on the fire" of inflation.
The Bank's gloomy forecast of a recession this year loomed large in the TV special, hosted by Sky News.
It earlier raised interest rates by the steepest amount in almost three decades, from 1.25% to 1.75%, in an attempt to curb soaring prices.
The inflation rate is forecast to hit a 42-year high of 13.3% this year, while the UK economy is expected to shrink for more than a year.
The Bank said the main reason for high inflation and low growth was rising energy bills, driven by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The worsening state of the UK economy has dominated the Tory leadership campaign, with both candidates putting forward rival visions to deal with the fallout.
Mr Sunak, who has trailed in recent polls, has repeatedly said he would prioritise bringing down inflation before cutting taxes if he became prime minister.
Ms Truss has pledged a package of tax cuts worth £30bn soon after she enters office, which Mr Sunak has argued would increase inflation and the cost of borrowing.
The former chancellor told the Sky News programme: "We in the Conservative Party need to get real and fast - because the lights on the economy are flashing red and the root cause is inflation."
Ms Truss reiterated her pledge to immediately reverse April's increase in National Insurance and cut other taxes, which she claimed would stimulate economic growth and prevent a recession.
"What the Bank of England have said... is of course extremely worrying, but it is not inevitable," she said.
"We can change the outcome and we can make it more likely that the economy grows."
'Something has gone wrong'
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng, an ally of Ms Truss, has criticised the Bank of England's performance.
He told Sky News there was a "strong argument" interest rates should have been raised "slightly sooner".
"The job of the Bank was to deal with the inflation," he said. "They have got a 2% inflation target. That's actually their mandate."
He said the predicted inflation rate peak showed "clearly something has gone wrong".
But former cabinet minister Liam Fox - who is supporting Mr Sunak - said the Truss campaign needed to be "more precise" about how their proposed changes to the Bank of England's mandate would work.
He said: "The Bank of England's going to be independent or not. The government's going to maintain its 2% inflation target or not."
While the governor of the Bank of England gave a sombre press conference, the candidates to be the next prime minister were preparing for their next turn in a TV studio.
The two candidates - once again - took the chance to have a pop at each other's economic plans.
Liz Truss claimed the tax levels Rishi Sunak advocates will lead to recession, not growth; Rishi Sunak claimed Liz Truss' plan to cut taxes will exacerbate inflation and prolong economic pain.
It is territory the two have clashed over before, but while the wannabe PMs keep exchanging blows on the finer points of fiscal policy, there will be many worried families and businesses simply wondering whether the help on offer will be anywhere near enough - or what more may come.
The pair are vying to win over Conservative Party members, whose votes will determine which of them will become the next Tory leader and prime minister.
The party's roughly 160,000 members started receiving ballot papers on Monday, with the result due on 5 September, when Prime Minister Boris Johnson will leave office.
Despite trailing in many polls of members, Mr Sunak appeared to win the most support among the Sky News audience members in a show of hands.
The programme saw an audience made up of Conservative members grill the candidates on a range of issues, including NHS funding, immigration and climate change.
In one testy exchange, Ms Truss disagreed with an audience member who expressed concerns about debt that would be incurred by the foreign secretary's tax plans.
Ms Truss said in response that "trying to balance the books prematurely is actually counterproductive" and growing the economy was more important.
Asked if she was happy with the answer, the Conservative member said she was not.
She told Ms Truss that what former Tory prime minister Margaret Thatcher "believed in was sound money", adding "this is not sound economics".
Ms Truss was also put on the back foot by programme host Kay Burley, who repeatedly asked the foreign secretary if her now-scrapped proposal to link public sector pay to local living costs was "a mistake".
But Ms Truss resisted such an admission, and instead insisted her regional pay policy was "misrepresented by various people".
At times, Mr Sunak looked uncomfortable when pressed by Ms Burley, too. She asked how he felt about so many former cabinet colleagues - including Nadhim Zahawi, Ben Wallace and Sajid Javid - backing Ms Truss's campaign and not his.
"Plenty of people who have sat around the cabinet table also support me," Mr Sunak said, highlighting Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab as one of his supporters.
On whether there was nothing he could do about a recession, Mr Sunak said: "Of course, there is, of course."
He said Ms Truss was wrong to suggest the tax burden was causing the recession, pointing instead to inflation.
In other parts of the TV programme, Ms Truss:
And Mr Sunak:
"The two continuity candidates have no answers to sky-high inflation, rocketing energy bills and the lengthy recession the Bank of England has warned is on the horizon," he said.
Asked about energy bills on Friday morning, Ms Truss acknowledged it was "going to be a tough winter" and pledged to release reserves of gas in the North Sea, as well as supporting fracking and nuclear power.
BBC
Tory leadership rivals Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak have set out competing plans to deal with the economic recession forecast by the Bank of England in their latest TV clash.
Ms Truss said a recession was "not inevitable" if "bold" action was taken.
But Mr Sunak said the foreign secretary's "unfunded" tax cuts would pour "fuel on the fire" of inflation.
The Bank's gloomy forecast of a recession this year loomed large in the TV special, hosted by Sky News.
It earlier raised interest rates by the steepest amount in almost three decades, from 1.25% to 1.75%, in an attempt to curb soaring prices.
The inflation rate is forecast to hit a 42-year high of 13.3% this year, while the UK economy is expected to shrink for more than a year.
The Bank said the main reason for high inflation and low growth was rising energy bills, driven by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The worsening state of the UK economy has dominated the Tory leadership campaign, with both candidates putting forward rival visions to deal with the fallout.
Mr Sunak, who has trailed in recent polls, has repeatedly said he would prioritise bringing down inflation before cutting taxes if he became prime minister.
Ms Truss has pledged a package of tax cuts worth £30bn soon after she enters office, which Mr Sunak has argued would increase inflation and the cost of borrowing.
The former chancellor told the Sky News programme: "We in the Conservative Party need to get real and fast - because the lights on the economy are flashing red and the root cause is inflation."
Ms Truss reiterated her pledge to immediately reverse April's increase in National Insurance and cut other taxes, which she claimed would stimulate economic growth and prevent a recession.
"What the Bank of England have said... is of course extremely worrying, but it is not inevitable," she said.
"We can change the outcome and we can make it more likely that the economy grows."
'Something has gone wrong'
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng, an ally of Ms Truss, has criticised the Bank of England's performance.
He told Sky News there was a "strong argument" interest rates should have been raised "slightly sooner".
"The job of the Bank was to deal with the inflation," he said. "They have got a 2% inflation target. That's actually their mandate."
He said the predicted inflation rate peak showed "clearly something has gone wrong".
But former cabinet minister Liam Fox - who is supporting Mr Sunak - said the Truss campaign needed to be "more precise" about how their proposed changes to the Bank of England's mandate would work.
He said: "The Bank of England's going to be independent or not. The government's going to maintain its 2% inflation target or not."
While the governor of the Bank of England gave a sombre press conference, the candidates to be the next prime minister were preparing for their next turn in a TV studio.
The two candidates - once again - took the chance to have a pop at each other's economic plans.
Liz Truss claimed the tax levels Rishi Sunak advocates will lead to recession, not growth; Rishi Sunak claimed Liz Truss' plan to cut taxes will exacerbate inflation and prolong economic pain.
It is territory the two have clashed over before, but while the wannabe PMs keep exchanging blows on the finer points of fiscal policy, there will be many worried families and businesses simply wondering whether the help on offer will be anywhere near enough - or what more may come.
The pair are vying to win over Conservative Party members, whose votes will determine which of them will become the next Tory leader and prime minister.
The party's roughly 160,000 members started receiving ballot papers on Monday, with the result due on 5 September, when Prime Minister Boris Johnson will leave office.
Despite trailing in many polls of members, Mr Sunak appeared to win the most support among the Sky News audience members in a show of hands.
The programme saw an audience made up of Conservative members grill the candidates on a range of issues, including NHS funding, immigration and climate change.
In one testy exchange, Ms Truss disagreed with an audience member who expressed concerns about debt that would be incurred by the foreign secretary's tax plans.
Ms Truss said in response that "trying to balance the books prematurely is actually counterproductive" and growing the economy was more important.
Asked if she was happy with the answer, the Conservative member said she was not.
She told Ms Truss that what former Tory prime minister Margaret Thatcher "believed in was sound money", adding "this is not sound economics".
Ms Truss was also put on the back foot by programme host Kay Burley, who repeatedly asked the foreign secretary if her now-scrapped proposal to link public sector pay to local living costs was "a mistake".
But Ms Truss resisted such an admission, and instead insisted her regional pay policy was "misrepresented by various people".
At times, Mr Sunak looked uncomfortable when pressed by Ms Burley, too. She asked how he felt about so many former cabinet colleagues - including Nadhim Zahawi, Ben Wallace and Sajid Javid - backing Ms Truss's campaign and not his.
"Plenty of people who have sat around the cabinet table also support me," Mr Sunak said, highlighting Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab as one of his supporters.
On whether there was nothing he could do about a recession, Mr Sunak said: "Of course, there is, of course."
He said Ms Truss was wrong to suggest the tax burden was causing the recession, pointing instead to inflation.
In other parts of the TV programme, Ms Truss:
- said she wanted to encourage doctors who came out of retirement to help the NHS during the pandemic "to come back into the profession"
- refused to say whether she would suspend Boris Johnson as a Tory MP if he was found to have lied to Parliament
- insisted she has nothing to hide, telling the audience "there are no skeletons in my closet"
And Mr Sunak:
- insisted he would "fight incredibly hard 'til the last day" of the leadership campaign and not quit before results day
- said an "enormous difference" can be made between now and next winter to reduce the UK's dependence on Russian energy
- defended an old video where he claimed not to have any working-class friends, saying "we all say silly things when we are younger"
- Speaking after the debate, Labour shadow minister without portfolio Conor McGinn said whichever candidate won their "low-growth, low-wage plans" would not fix the economic crisis.
"The two continuity candidates have no answers to sky-high inflation, rocketing energy bills and the lengthy recession the Bank of England has warned is on the horizon," he said.
Asked about energy bills on Friday morning, Ms Truss acknowledged it was "going to be a tough winter" and pledged to release reserves of gas in the North Sea, as well as supporting fracking and nuclear power.
BBC
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The Tories can "kiss goodbye" to winning the next election if inflation is not brought under control quickly, Rishi Sunak has said.
Speaking at a leadership hustings in Eastbourne, the ex-chancellor, who wants to prioritise tackling rising prices before cutting taxes, seized on a warning by the Bank of England.
Rival Liz Truss said keeping taxes low was the best way to avoid a downturn.
She said the UK should not be "talking itself into a recession".
The Bank of England has warned inflation - currently 9.4% - could peak at more than 13% and stay at "very elevated levels" throughout much of next year, before eventually returning to its 2% target in 2024.
Ms Truss, who has promised to reverse some of Mr Sunak's tax rises, challenged the Bank's gloomy economic prognosis, at the hustings.
But Mr Sunak highlighted its warning that inflation could become embedded, saying there would be "no hope that we're going to win that next election" amid continuing rising prices.
Mr Sunak and Ms Truss are vying for support from Conservative party members to be elected the next party leader, and prime minister.
Voting has started and the result is due to be announced on 5 September.
There was a brief disturbance at the hustings when Ms Truss's opening remarks were interrupted by a small group of climate activists, who were believed to be from the Green New Deal Rising group.
After the group was ejected from the event, Ms Truss took aim at what she called "unfair protests" that disrupted people's lives.
She pledged to clamp down on "militant people who try and disrupt our country" - mentioning both trade unions and environmental groups such as Extinction Rebellion.
Another protester was later removed from the event after interrupting Ms Truss.
BBC
Speaking at a leadership hustings in Eastbourne, the ex-chancellor, who wants to prioritise tackling rising prices before cutting taxes, seized on a warning by the Bank of England.
Rival Liz Truss said keeping taxes low was the best way to avoid a downturn.
She said the UK should not be "talking itself into a recession".
The Bank of England has warned inflation - currently 9.4% - could peak at more than 13% and stay at "very elevated levels" throughout much of next year, before eventually returning to its 2% target in 2024.
Ms Truss, who has promised to reverse some of Mr Sunak's tax rises, challenged the Bank's gloomy economic prognosis, at the hustings.
But Mr Sunak highlighted its warning that inflation could become embedded, saying there would be "no hope that we're going to win that next election" amid continuing rising prices.
Mr Sunak and Ms Truss are vying for support from Conservative party members to be elected the next party leader, and prime minister.
Voting has started and the result is due to be announced on 5 September.
There was a brief disturbance at the hustings when Ms Truss's opening remarks were interrupted by a small group of climate activists, who were believed to be from the Green New Deal Rising group.
After the group was ejected from the event, Ms Truss took aim at what she called "unfair protests" that disrupted people's lives.
She pledged to clamp down on "militant people who try and disrupt our country" - mentioning both trade unions and environmental groups such as Extinction Rebellion.
Another protester was later removed from the event after interrupting Ms Truss.
BBC
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<b>Tory leadership hopeful Rishi Sunak wants to transform further and higher education in a bid to create parity of esteem between vocational and academic learning.</b>
In proposals announced tonight, the Tory leadership contender pledged to create a Russell Group of technical colleges.
The changes would mark "a significant stride towards parity of esteem between vocational and academic education," his campaign said.
Were he to beat Liz Truss in the leadership contest, Mr Sunak committed to strengthening networks of technical institutions and their links with industry, as well as giving them powers to award degrees.
"A good education is the closest thing we have to a silver bullet when it comes to making people's lives better," the former chancellor said.
He promised his reforms would "take a tougher approach to university degrees that saddle students with debt, without improving their earning potential".
Mr Sunak attended fee-paying private school Winchester College, before studying Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) at Oxford University.
The former chancellor promised to assess university degrees through their drop-out rates, numbers in graduate jobs and salary thresholds - making exceptions for nursing and other courses with high social value.
In an apparent bid to appeal to the right, Mr Sunak's campaign said he would also expedite the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill, which the government argues is necessary to tackle growing intolerance in universities.
Opponents suggest it is aimed at addressing a problem that does not exist and could protect hate speech.
Mr Sunak also pledged to improve professional development for teachers, progress plans announced by the Government in June to open 75 new free schools, and give school trusts an "accountability holiday" for two years after taking on underperforming schools.
As part of her plans for education, rival Liz Truss has committed to replacing failing academies with new free schools, and promised that pupils with top marks at A level would get an automatic invitation to apply for Oxbridge and other prestigious universities.
SKY NEWS
In proposals announced tonight, the Tory leadership contender pledged to create a Russell Group of technical colleges.
The changes would mark "a significant stride towards parity of esteem between vocational and academic education," his campaign said.
Were he to beat Liz Truss in the leadership contest, Mr Sunak committed to strengthening networks of technical institutions and their links with industry, as well as giving them powers to award degrees.
"A good education is the closest thing we have to a silver bullet when it comes to making people's lives better," the former chancellor said.
He promised his reforms would "take a tougher approach to university degrees that saddle students with debt, without improving their earning potential".
Mr Sunak attended fee-paying private school Winchester College, before studying Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) at Oxford University.
The former chancellor promised to assess university degrees through their drop-out rates, numbers in graduate jobs and salary thresholds - making exceptions for nursing and other courses with high social value.
In an apparent bid to appeal to the right, Mr Sunak's campaign said he would also expedite the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill, which the government argues is necessary to tackle growing intolerance in universities.
Opponents suggest it is aimed at addressing a problem that does not exist and could protect hate speech.
Mr Sunak also pledged to improve professional development for teachers, progress plans announced by the Government in June to open 75 new free schools, and give school trusts an "accountability holiday" for two years after taking on underperforming schools.
As part of her plans for education, rival Liz Truss has committed to replacing failing academies with new free schools, and promised that pupils with top marks at A level would get an automatic invitation to apply for Oxbridge and other prestigious universities.
SKY NEWS
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A new Brexit delivery unit.<br><br>Reviewing every EU law on our statute book.<br><br>Starting in my first 100 days. <br><br>Let’s keep Brexit safe
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ready4Rishi?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ready4Rishi</a> <a href="https://t.co/3cXn1rFhca">https://t.co/3cXn1rFhca</a> <a href="https://t.co/BjdRVJSvJz">pic.twitter.com/BjdRVJSvJz</a></p>— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) <a href="https://twitter.com/RishiSunak/status/1556590394170818560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 8, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ready4Rishi?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ready4Rishi</a> <a href="https://t.co/3cXn1rFhca">https://t.co/3cXn1rFhca</a> <a href="https://t.co/BjdRVJSvJz">pic.twitter.com/BjdRVJSvJz</a></p>— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) <a href="https://twitter.com/RishiSunak/status/1556590394170818560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 8, 2022</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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Rishi Sunak has unveiled a plan to slash rising energy bills for up to 16 million vulnerable people which he hopes will propel him to 10 Downing Street.
In a dramatic move as his Tory leadership clash with Liz Truss becomes increasingly bitter, he is said to be prepared to find up to £10bn to cut bills for poorer households.
And in a swipe at his opponent, the former chancellor declared in an article in The Times: "Whatever the 'boosterish' talk of others, you can't heat your home with hope."
As the cost of living crisis becomes the overwhelming issue in the leadership campaign, Mr Sunak wrote: "People need reassurance now about what we will do, and I make no apology for concentrating on what matters most."
But Mr Sunak's latest cost of living plan will be attacked by Ms Truss's supporters as another U-turn and with many party members having voted already in the leadership poll it may have come too late to save him from defeat.
According to The Times, Mr Sunak accepts that his plan to cut VAT on energy bills would cost £5bn, and he would now also find up to £5bn more to help those most vulnerable to rising prices.
He also predicted that as energy prices continue to rise the government would have to raise more money from a windfall tax on energy companies, a move rejected by Ms Truss at the latest leadership hustings in Cheltenham.
Benefits systems is 'quickest' way to support people
In his article, Mr Sunak said he would offer specific support to pensioners and those on benefits as they "simply cannot increase their incomes to meet their energy costs and are the most vulnerable in society".
He said universal credit, winter fuel payments and similar routes would be used to top up their incomes, with the goal of ensuring they were no worse off as a result of rising bills.
Mr Sunak's team claims that until Ofgem announces the exact level of the price cap later this month, he cannot not promise that he would cover the entire cost of the rise for the most vulnerable groups.
But it was emphasised that it was his intention to cover "as much of the hole as possible", with households already likely to be £400 to 500 worse off than predicted in May.
In his article, Mr Sunak said if he became prime minister he would extend the scheme he launched in May that provided every household with £400 off this winter's fuel costs, rising to £1,200 for pensioners and those on benefits.
He said using the benefits system was the "quickest, most effective, targeted way of getting support" to groups of people in the most need and could be put in place before the October price cap comes into force.
"I am unequivocal that, if I enter 10 Downing Street at the start of next month, I will provide the support required to the people who need it," he said.
"To parents and pensioners losing sleep about looming bills, I want to reassure them that I get it, I am on top of it and I have a plan to grip it.
"I can't say to the pound and penny what help will be available because we don't yet know the precise scale of the challenge. but I give you my assurance that as soon as we do, I will. And I will do as much as I can to help."
Sunak denies plan is a U-turn
Mr Sunak said he would pay for the plan by making savings in some other projects, adding that it might be necessary to "stop or pause some things in government" because "getting people through this winter has to be the first priority".
But in a move that will be seized upon by the Truss camp, he said he was prepared for "some limited and temporary, one-off borrowing as a last resort to get us through this winter".
Denying this represented a U-turn - having previously attacked Ms Truss for saying she would increase borrowing - Mr Sunak said their plans were very different.
"Borrowing relatively small sums temporarily in the throes of a crisis to provide targeted support is good, Conservative government," he said.
"Borrowing permanently for large, unfunded, inflationary spending commitments is a flight of fancy."
He added: "You shouldn't make promises you can't afford to keep, and unfunded long-term tax cuts without doing the hard work on tackling inflation are not going to be kept.
"That is the basic honest approach to the country's finances that we conservatives have long prized."
In a further challenge to Ms Truss, the front-runner to succeed Boris Johnson as prime minister, he said the foreign secretary needed to spell out how she would help those for whom October's price rise is least affordable.
He said: "The facts are we have days and weeks to act before millions of Britons are left struggling with unaffordable bills. I have set out my plan. It's here in black and white.
"I call on those rejecting my tried and tested method, to set out in detail how they would get help to those that need it in time before their bills need paying."
SKY
In a dramatic move as his Tory leadership clash with Liz Truss becomes increasingly bitter, he is said to be prepared to find up to £10bn to cut bills for poorer households.
And in a swipe at his opponent, the former chancellor declared in an article in The Times: "Whatever the 'boosterish' talk of others, you can't heat your home with hope."
As the cost of living crisis becomes the overwhelming issue in the leadership campaign, Mr Sunak wrote: "People need reassurance now about what we will do, and I make no apology for concentrating on what matters most."
But Mr Sunak's latest cost of living plan will be attacked by Ms Truss's supporters as another U-turn and with many party members having voted already in the leadership poll it may have come too late to save him from defeat.
According to The Times, Mr Sunak accepts that his plan to cut VAT on energy bills would cost £5bn, and he would now also find up to £5bn more to help those most vulnerable to rising prices.
He also predicted that as energy prices continue to rise the government would have to raise more money from a windfall tax on energy companies, a move rejected by Ms Truss at the latest leadership hustings in Cheltenham.
Benefits systems is 'quickest' way to support people
In his article, Mr Sunak said he would offer specific support to pensioners and those on benefits as they "simply cannot increase their incomes to meet their energy costs and are the most vulnerable in society".
He said universal credit, winter fuel payments and similar routes would be used to top up their incomes, with the goal of ensuring they were no worse off as a result of rising bills.
Mr Sunak's team claims that until Ofgem announces the exact level of the price cap later this month, he cannot not promise that he would cover the entire cost of the rise for the most vulnerable groups.
But it was emphasised that it was his intention to cover "as much of the hole as possible", with households already likely to be £400 to 500 worse off than predicted in May.
In his article, Mr Sunak said if he became prime minister he would extend the scheme he launched in May that provided every household with £400 off this winter's fuel costs, rising to £1,200 for pensioners and those on benefits.
He said using the benefits system was the "quickest, most effective, targeted way of getting support" to groups of people in the most need and could be put in place before the October price cap comes into force.
"I am unequivocal that, if I enter 10 Downing Street at the start of next month, I will provide the support required to the people who need it," he said.
"To parents and pensioners losing sleep about looming bills, I want to reassure them that I get it, I am on top of it and I have a plan to grip it.
"I can't say to the pound and penny what help will be available because we don't yet know the precise scale of the challenge. but I give you my assurance that as soon as we do, I will. And I will do as much as I can to help."
Sunak denies plan is a U-turn
Mr Sunak said he would pay for the plan by making savings in some other projects, adding that it might be necessary to "stop or pause some things in government" because "getting people through this winter has to be the first priority".
But in a move that will be seized upon by the Truss camp, he said he was prepared for "some limited and temporary, one-off borrowing as a last resort to get us through this winter".
Denying this represented a U-turn - having previously attacked Ms Truss for saying she would increase borrowing - Mr Sunak said their plans were very different.
"Borrowing relatively small sums temporarily in the throes of a crisis to provide targeted support is good, Conservative government," he said.
"Borrowing permanently for large, unfunded, inflationary spending commitments is a flight of fancy."
He added: "You shouldn't make promises you can't afford to keep, and unfunded long-term tax cuts without doing the hard work on tackling inflation are not going to be kept.
"That is the basic honest approach to the country's finances that we conservatives have long prized."
In a further challenge to Ms Truss, the front-runner to succeed Boris Johnson as prime minister, he said the foreign secretary needed to spell out how she would help those for whom October's price rise is least affordable.
He said: "The facts are we have days and weeks to act before millions of Britons are left struggling with unaffordable bills. I have set out my plan. It's here in black and white.
"I call on those rejecting my tried and tested method, to set out in detail how they would get help to those that need it in time before their bills need paying."
SKY
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London: Rishi Sunak, one of two candidates seeking to become Britain's next prime minister, said Friday's attack on author Salman Rushdie should serve as a wake-up call to the West over Iran, the Sunday Telegraph reported.
Indian-born author Rushdie, who spent years in hiding after Iran urged Muslims to kill him over his novel "The Satanic Verses", was stabbed in the neck and torso on stage at a lecture in New York state. After hours of surgery, Rushdie was on a ventilator and unable to speak as of Friday evening.
There has been no official government reaction in Iran to the attack on Rushdie, but several hardline Iranian newspapers praised his assailant.
"The brutal stabbing of Salman Rushdie should be a wake-up call for the West, and Iran's reaction to the attack strengthens the case for proscribing the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps),” Rishi Sunak, the former finance minister, said, according to the paper.
The IRGC controls Iran's elite armed and intelligence forces.
Rishi Sunak, referring to stuttering talks between Iran and the West to revive a nuclear deal, said, "We urgently need a new, strengthened deal and much tougher sanctions, and if we can't get results then we have to start asking whether the JCPOA is at a dead end."
The JCPOA, or the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, is the 2015 agreement under which Iran curbed its nuclear programme in return for relief from U.S., EU and UN sanctions.
“The situation in Iran is extremely serious and in standing up to (Russian President Vladimir) Putin we can't take our eye off the ball elsewhere," Rishi Sunak said.
Polls show Rishi Sunak is badly trailing foreign secretary Liz Truss in the British leadership contest.
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/att...ke-up-call-3252841#pfrom=home-ndtv_topstories
Indian-born author Rushdie, who spent years in hiding after Iran urged Muslims to kill him over his novel "The Satanic Verses", was stabbed in the neck and torso on stage at a lecture in New York state. After hours of surgery, Rushdie was on a ventilator and unable to speak as of Friday evening.
There has been no official government reaction in Iran to the attack on Rushdie, but several hardline Iranian newspapers praised his assailant.
"The brutal stabbing of Salman Rushdie should be a wake-up call for the West, and Iran's reaction to the attack strengthens the case for proscribing the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps),” Rishi Sunak, the former finance minister, said, according to the paper.
The IRGC controls Iran's elite armed and intelligence forces.
Rishi Sunak, referring to stuttering talks between Iran and the West to revive a nuclear deal, said, "We urgently need a new, strengthened deal and much tougher sanctions, and if we can't get results then we have to start asking whether the JCPOA is at a dead end."
The JCPOA, or the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, is the 2015 agreement under which Iran curbed its nuclear programme in return for relief from U.S., EU and UN sanctions.
“The situation in Iran is extremely serious and in standing up to (Russian President Vladimir) Putin we can't take our eye off the ball elsewhere," Rishi Sunak said.
Polls show Rishi Sunak is badly trailing foreign secretary Liz Truss in the British leadership contest.
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/att...ke-up-call-3252841#pfrom=home-ndtv_topstories
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Rishi Sunak has insisted he still has a "shot" at Downing Street despite polls suggesting Liz Truss has a strong lead in the Conservative leadership contest.
He told ITV's This Morning he "definitely" had a chance of victory, while warning his rival's tax-cutting plans risked fuelling inflation.
The former chancellor said his economic approach was "honest" and deliverable.
The latest poll of Tory members pointed to 66% backing Ms Truss and 34% supporting Mr Sunak.
The YouGov survey of 1,089 people for Sky News was conducted from 12-17 August. The percentages were calculated by excluding undecided members and non-voters.
The next UK prime minister will be announced on 5 September. The postal ballot closes on 2 September, but thousands of party members are thought to have already voted.
But Mr Sunak said: "I'm really excited to keep going, I think my ideas are the right ones."
Asked about Labour's proposal to freeze energy bills, partly by backdating the windfall tax on oil and gas companies' profits, he argued this would be a "very blunt instrument", providing "a lot of support for people who don't need it".
In an apparent attack on Ms Truss's campaign pledges, he warned that increasing borrowing during a time of high inflation would be "really risky".
"It's like putting fuel on the fire and that's the mistake we made in the 70s, I don't want to repeat that mistake," he said.
On Wednesday, it emerged the inflation rate in July had soared to 10.1%, a 40-year high.
Ms Truss has argued that taxes are too high and risk "choking off growth". She says businesses are less likely to invest, and people are less likely to set up businesses or get jobs.
Reducing taxation, the foreign secretary has said, is the best way of staving off a recession.
Mr Sunak said restoring trust in government and politics was about "under-promising and over-delivering".
"That's why in this leadership race I've not been making lots of easy promises that I think are false, I'd rather lose than say things I don't think can be delivered, I'd rather be honest with people."
Elsewhere in his ITV interview, Mr Sunak described Boris Johnson's battle to cling to power in July as "a bit odd".
His own resignation as chancellor helped to prompt more than 50 other members of the government to follow suit.
Asked if the prime minister still talks to him, Mr Sunak said: "No, no. I've reached out to him but understandably he's not replied.
"That's fair but it wasn't just me, at the end of the day, 60 other members of the government all resigned as well."
Ms Truss has continued to praise Mr Johnson's record as prime minister.
She has now agreed to be interviewed by the BBC's Nick Robinson. The interview will be broadcast live on BBC1 on 30 August.
Mr Robinson questioned her rival earlier in the month.
In his ITV interview, the former chancellor was also asked about a photograph he recently posted on Instagram of himself paying at a McDonald's self-service machine.
After his spring statement in March, he was filmed struggling to use his bank card to buy petrol.
Pressed on what he ordered at McDonald's, Mr Sunak said he bought breakfast.
"I get bacon roll with ketchup and the pancakes.
"If I'm with my daughters then we get the wrap. My eldest daughter, we get the wraps.
"If I'm with her they're wrapped with a hash brown and everything in it."
On social media, some people have pointed out that the fast food chain has not served breakfast wraps since March 2020, when it reduced its menu in response to the Covid pandemic.
A source on Mr Sunak's campaign later said: "Rishi has barely seen his kids in the last two-and-a-half years since he became chancellor so there has been almost no opportunity to share a McDonald's with them.
"He's hoping they might consider bringing the breakfast wrap back on the menu."
BBC
James
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The breakfast wrap stuff is just another grimacing humiliation for Rishi. He’s so badly out of touch with everyday people and he has been a woeful candidate in this contest.
SpiritOf1903
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He's basically as bad as Miliband was construed to be
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Michael Gove has backed Rishi Sunak to be the next Conservative leader and prime minister, as he accused Liz Truss of taking a "holiday from reality".
The former cabinet minister, who was sacked by Boris Johnson after telling the PM he should quit last month, said slashing taxes was not the answer to the cost of living crisis.
In a clear swipe at Ms Truss's proposals, he wrote in The Times: "I am deeply concerned that the framing of the leadership debate by many has been a holiday from reality.
"The answer to the cost-of-living crisis cannot be simply to reject further 'handouts' and cut tax."
Mr Gove also indicated that he would not be returning to frontline politics, whoever becomes the next PM.
"I do not expect to be in government again. But it was the privilege of my life to spend 11 years in the cabinet under three prime ministers," he wrote.
"I know what the job requires. And Rishi has it."
He added: "Proposed cuts to national insurance would favour the wealthy, and changes to corporation tax apply to big businesses, not small entrepreneurs.
"I cannot see how safeguarding the stock options of FTSE 100 executives should ever take precedence over supporting the poorest in our society, but at a time of want it cannot be the right priority."
Mr Gove, who initially backed Kemi Badenoch in the early stages of the leadership contest, also said he did not believe Ms Truss's "prospectus is the right answer for the world we face".
"It does not address the fundamental problems of potential neglected, productivity suppressed and the vulnerable suffering the most," he said.
The former levelling up secretary also criticised his Conservative colleagues who have backed Ms Truss for following the "SW1 consensus", saying: "A bandwagon is clattering down Whitehall with eager new adherents clambering aboard."
There was also criticism of Ms Truss's plan to lift the ban on grammar schools. Mr Gove said there is "neither the money to build them nor the evidence they advance social mobility".
The Sunak campaign welcomed his backing, with a spokeswoman saying: "Delighted to have the support of a party and cabinet veteran who has intellectual heft and shown the radical reforming zeal in every job he has had, that we now so desperately need."
The former cabinet minister, who was sacked by Boris Johnson after telling the PM he should quit last month, said slashing taxes was not the answer to the cost of living crisis.
In a clear swipe at Ms Truss's proposals, he wrote in The Times: "I am deeply concerned that the framing of the leadership debate by many has been a holiday from reality.
"The answer to the cost-of-living crisis cannot be simply to reject further 'handouts' and cut tax."
Mr Gove also indicated that he would not be returning to frontline politics, whoever becomes the next PM.
"I do not expect to be in government again. But it was the privilege of my life to spend 11 years in the cabinet under three prime ministers," he wrote.
"I know what the job requires. And Rishi has it."
He added: "Proposed cuts to national insurance would favour the wealthy, and changes to corporation tax apply to big businesses, not small entrepreneurs.
"I cannot see how safeguarding the stock options of FTSE 100 executives should ever take precedence over supporting the poorest in our society, but at a time of want it cannot be the right priority."
Mr Gove, who initially backed Kemi Badenoch in the early stages of the leadership contest, also said he did not believe Ms Truss's "prospectus is the right answer for the world we face".
"It does not address the fundamental problems of potential neglected, productivity suppressed and the vulnerable suffering the most," he said.
The former levelling up secretary also criticised his Conservative colleagues who have backed Ms Truss for following the "SW1 consensus", saying: "A bandwagon is clattering down Whitehall with eager new adherents clambering aboard."
There was also criticism of Ms Truss's plan to lift the ban on grammar schools. Mr Gove said there is "neither the money to build them nor the evidence they advance social mobility".
The Sunak campaign welcomed his backing, with a spokeswoman saying: "Delighted to have the support of a party and cabinet veteran who has intellectual heft and shown the radical reforming zeal in every job he has had, that we now so desperately need."
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Rishi Sunak on Monday asked the Conservative Party members to unite behind the newly-appointed British Prime Minister Liz Truss, minutes after she defeated him in the leadership contest to succeed Boris Johnson, to steer the country through difficult times.
Mr Sunak, 42, soon after his defeat, took to Twitter to thank everyone who voted for him.
"I've said throughout that the Conservatives are one family. It's right we now unite behind the new PM, Liz Truss, as she steers the country through difficult times," the British Indian former Chancellor tweeted.
Truss polled 81,326 votes, compared to Sunak's 60,399 in an election with a high turnout of 82.6 per cent, with 654 rejected ballots from a total of 172,437 eligible Tory voters.
Truss, 47, is the third female Prime Minister in Britain after Margaret Thatcher and Theresa May.
On Sunday also, Mr Sunak said that if he loses the Conservative Party leadership race, his job would be to support the next government.
In his final interview with the BBC before the results are declared, Sunak said he plans to stay on as a member of Parliament and continue to work for his constituents in Richmond, Yorkshire, if he is defeated by Truss in the race.
NDTV
Mr Sunak, 42, soon after his defeat, took to Twitter to thank everyone who voted for him.
"I've said throughout that the Conservatives are one family. It's right we now unite behind the new PM, Liz Truss, as she steers the country through difficult times," the British Indian former Chancellor tweeted.
Truss polled 81,326 votes, compared to Sunak's 60,399 in an election with a high turnout of 82.6 per cent, with 654 rejected ballots from a total of 172,437 eligible Tory voters.
Truss, 47, is the third female Prime Minister in Britain after Margaret Thatcher and Theresa May.
On Sunday also, Mr Sunak said that if he loses the Conservative Party leadership race, his job would be to support the next government.
In his final interview with the BBC before the results are declared, Sunak said he plans to stay on as a member of Parliament and continue to work for his constituents in Richmond, Yorkshire, if he is defeated by Truss in the race.
NDTV
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Could he be in the running again?
cricketjoshila
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Again? Really?
Manunited18
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I think Ben Wallace will eventually take charge.
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Lets see how things go after 3.30 today.
Imo its either Truss or a general election.
Imo its either Truss or a general election.
Manunited18
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A General election will be like " digging your own Grave" for the Tories. No way the public will forgive them for this complete incompetence!
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Getting rid of Truss will be suicide too.
They are the ones that brought her! She occupied multiple high offices before this too!
James
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Sunak could slip in through the back door.
He may be PM yet.
He may be PM yet.
cricketjoshila
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Whats the convention?
shaz619
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What needs to happen for a GE to take place? surely Tories wont veto their own party but I guess they could threaten it in order to remove Truss
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There are a few options. She can resign and the new leader calls an election, she can call one herself, or the opposition can call a no confidence motion ( they will need Tory support).
It's the most bizarre situation in the history of British politics imo.
She has a massive majority but the MP's don't rate her.
She won the leadership contest on the back of the very proposals that people are now crucifying her for.
She is the lamest of lame ducks. No support from the MP's and has been forced to walk away from her policies that made her win in the first place.
shaz619
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It is slightly bemusing because I understand the 1922 committee has elected MP’s on it and it is hard to comprehend that the same people who supported her are now wanting to get rid of her, were they all this out of depth to not begin to envision the impact of her policies and it all turned into some personality leadership contest instead. The whole party is a laughing stock.
It doesn't matter if truss goes and they put in sunak or there is a general election and we get captain hindsight and his sidekick the chav from Stockport.
Uk is economically screwed investors are already running away bmw is building the electric mini in China.
Like kkwc the 1800s is gone no more enslaving and looting rest of the world you have a massive force in Russia and China now who offer an alternative .
I fear the worse in winter the defacto pm has gone full max austerity volume 2 he is already cutting the energy cap price in April 2023 so only 6 months not the 2 years promised all hell is gonna break loose for small businesses and low middle income families whose gonna be able to fork out 6000 energy bills , putin and lavrov even though they have messed up in ukraine with their incompetent military operation will be on the floor rolling over from laughter.
Uk is economically screwed investors are already running away bmw is building the electric mini in China.
Like kkwc the 1800s is gone no more enslaving and looting rest of the world you have a massive force in Russia and China now who offer an alternative .
I fear the worse in winter the defacto pm has gone full max austerity volume 2 he is already cutting the energy cap price in April 2023 so only 6 months not the 2 years promised all hell is gonna break loose for small businesses and low middle income families whose gonna be able to fork out 6000 energy bills , putin and lavrov even though they have messed up in ukraine with their incompetent military operation will be on the floor rolling over from laughter.
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Javid endorses Sunak for next Tory leader
As was reported by Sky's political editor Beth Rigby a few minutes ago, Sajid Javid has come out in support of Rishi Sunak.
He said decisions should be made in the "national interest" and the country needs "economic stability, hard-headed decision making and strong leadership".
"It is abundantly clear that Rishi Sunak has what it takes to match the challenges we face - he is the right person to lead our party and take the country forward," he said.
The former health secretary and chancellor backed Liz Truss in the contest over the summer. At the time, he said Mr Sunak's plans would mean "sleepwalking into a high-tax, low-growth" economy.
He is the 68th MP to indicate support for Mr Sunak.
Over a third of Tory MPs (121 so far) have now made public who they are backing.
As was reported by Sky's political editor Beth Rigby a few minutes ago, Sajid Javid has come out in support of Rishi Sunak.
He said decisions should be made in the "national interest" and the country needs "economic stability, hard-headed decision making and strong leadership".
"It is abundantly clear that Rishi Sunak has what it takes to match the challenges we face - he is the right person to lead our party and take the country forward," he said.
The former health secretary and chancellor backed Liz Truss in the contest over the summer. At the time, he said Mr Sunak's plans would mean "sleepwalking into a high-tax, low-growth" economy.
He is the 68th MP to indicate support for Mr Sunak.
Over a third of Tory MPs (121 so far) have now made public who they are backing.
SpiritOf1903
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Leicester will hold Diwali
SpiritOf1903
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:
James
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What a quick and dramatic comeback from humiliating defeat this would be if Sunak was somehow able to secure the PM position at the end of the week.
Manunited18
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Cant say it was humiliating. Remember in the vote off against Truss, he actually did say all the policies put forward by Truss would dramatically fail snd put the uk in a very awkward position. It has to be the ignorance of the members rather than incompetence of Sunak.
James
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Rishi vindicated?
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Rishi Sunak became the first Tory leadership candidate to secure the backing of 100 MPs on Friday night as Boris Johnson’s supporters began warning of a stitch-up.
The former chancellor reached the threshold around 10pm, according to a campaign source, meaning he will be on the ballot for Monday’s vote. His team now wants the endorsement of a majority of Tory MPs.
Earlier, Mr Johnson was ringing Conservative MPs from the Dominican Republic, in a sign of how seriously he is pursuing a comeback, as allies demanded that Tory members be given a chance to vote.
The Telegraph can reveal that Kemi Badenoch, the International Trade Secretary, and Suella Braverman, the former home secretary, are considering backing Mr Johnson, in what would be a major boost that could unify the party’s Right.
There are just a little over 48 hours left in the rapid race for nominations to replace Liz Truss as prime minister, with the backroom dealing and horse trading set to intensify before Monday’s 2pm deadline.
On Friday night, Mr Sunak had secured the public backing of 97 Tory MPs, with Mr Johnson second on 52 MPs and Penny Mordaunt, the Leader of the Commons, on 22.
Meanwhile, Mr Johnson won the backing of Cabinet ministers, with Ben Wallace, the Defence Secretary, then Simon Clarke, the Communities Secretary, publicly endorsing him.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/ukne...pc=U531&cvid=66b05d9964cc4d18b1be676b9c2fc9f2
The former chancellor reached the threshold around 10pm, according to a campaign source, meaning he will be on the ballot for Monday’s vote. His team now wants the endorsement of a majority of Tory MPs.
Earlier, Mr Johnson was ringing Conservative MPs from the Dominican Republic, in a sign of how seriously he is pursuing a comeback, as allies demanded that Tory members be given a chance to vote.
The Telegraph can reveal that Kemi Badenoch, the International Trade Secretary, and Suella Braverman, the former home secretary, are considering backing Mr Johnson, in what would be a major boost that could unify the party’s Right.
There are just a little over 48 hours left in the rapid race for nominations to replace Liz Truss as prime minister, with the backroom dealing and horse trading set to intensify before Monday’s 2pm deadline.
On Friday night, Mr Sunak had secured the public backing of 97 Tory MPs, with Mr Johnson second on 52 MPs and Penny Mordaunt, the Leader of the Commons, on 22.
Meanwhile, Mr Johnson won the backing of Cabinet ministers, with Ben Wallace, the Defence Secretary, then Simon Clarke, the Communities Secretary, publicly endorsing him.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/ukne...pc=U531&cvid=66b05d9964cc4d18b1be676b9c2fc9f2
Manunited18
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Not sure really. Ideally Penny would make a better leader as she would unite the party as both Boris and Sunak come with to much baggage which will cause further turmoil to the Uk.
shaz619
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Who is less of a war mongerer out of Rishi and Penny?
I’d maybe lean towards Penny as she was defence secretary
shortbread
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As a leader, the only things that would unite the conservatives currently are the corpses of Thatcher or Churchill. Any other living thing will definitely be back stabbed!
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